Altana AG : ALTANA Innovation Award 2012 goes to BYK

ALTANA Innovation Award 2012 goes to BYK

A BYK innovation team has won the 2012 ALTANA Innovation Award. The prize was awarded for high performance CRP wetting and dispersing additives for sophisticated coatings applications. The prize awards technically outstanding innovations that are already successful in the market. The presentation of the prize took place within the framework of the 5th international ALTANA Innovation Conference held in Wesel on November 7 and 8, 2012.

BYK's winning team has developed a new technology platform based on CRP comb copolymers with quaternary ammonium structures as pigment-affinic groups. Dispersants based on this structure are used in various high-end applications, like FPD, automotive coatings and inkjet inks. With this development BYK shapes important market trends and enters new application fields. The potential of this new core technology for other fields of application is currently being investigated and further developed in a series of marketing projects.

BYK's winning team is made up of: Dr. Bernd Göbelt, Mark Heekeren, Marcus Meichsner, Dr. Stefan Mößmer, Markus Rößner, Sabine Stelz, and Akihiro Wakahara.

About 160 top researchers and developers of the specialty chemicals Group from all over the world gathered at the 5th international Innovation Conference to discuss technical and economic developments as well as future innovative trends. For ALTANA, innovation is the pivotal key to further growth. With research and development expenditure of about 6% of sales, which is clearly above the industry average, ALTANA secures its technological edge and provides its customers with unique innovative products and services. New developments are investigated and implemented together with the customer and in close proximity to them. More than 50 laboratory and research sites worldwide provide customers locally with innovative solutions in the area of surface protection and surface finishing. More than 20 percent of ALTANA's employees globally work in research or application technology.

"The ALTANA Innovation Award and the ALTANA Innovation Conference are an integral part of our innovation culture. After having achieved a very high level of cross-linking of our innovation community not only with the help of these elements, we will now also turn towards an intensive use of external knowledge in open innovation communities," said Dr. Georg F.L. Wießmeier, Chief Technology Officer of ALTANA.

The picture shows the winners of the ALTANA Innovation Award 2012 (from left): Dr. Bernd Göbelt, Akihiro Wakahara, and Dr. Stefan Mößmer, who accepted the award on behalf of the winning team. Also on the BYK winning team (but not in the picture): Mark Heekeren, Marcus Meichsner, Markus Rößner, and Sabine Stelz.

[A click on the picture opens a link to the printable version on altana.com]

Winner and congratulators of the ALTANA Innovation Award 2012 (from left): Dr. Bernd Göbelt (BYK), Dr. Jürgen Omeis (CTO BYK), Dr. Georg F.L. Wießmeier (CTO ALTANA), Akihiro Wakahara (BYK Japan), Dr. Matthias L. Wolfgruber (CEO ALTANA) und Dr. Stefan Mößmer (BYK). Also on the BYK winning team (but not in the picture): Mark Heekeren, Marcus Meichsner, Markus Rößner, and Sabine Stelz.

[A click on the picture opens a link to the printable version on altana.com]

About ALTANA:
ALTANA develops and produces high-quality, innovative products in the specialty chemicals business. The ALTANA Group, with headquarters in Wesel/Germany, is a genuine "global player" with about 85% of its sales generated by international activities. The ALTANA Group has four divisions: BYK Additives & Instruments, ECKART Effect Pigments, ELANTAS Electrical Insulation, and ACTEGA Coatings & Sealants. All of these divisions occupy a leading position in their target markets with respect to quality, product solution expertise, innovation and service.

ALTANA offers innovative, environmentally compatible solutions with the matching specialty products for coating manufactures, paint and plastics processors, the printing and cosmetic industries, and the electrical and electronics industry. The product range includes additives, special coatings and adhesives, effect pigments, sealants and compounds, impregnating resins and varnishes, and testing and measuring instruments. At present, the ALTANA Group has 41 production facilities and more than 50 service and research laboratories worldwide. Throughout the group about 5,350 people work to ensure the success of ALTANA worldwide. In 2011, ALTANA achieved sales of more than 1.6 billion euros. Its impressive earning power and high growth rate make ALTANA one of the most successful and innovative chemical groups worldwide.